To devise a strategy, Mona, along with Madam, Felix, and a few other employees, gathered in Erin’s room.
All had serious expressions and found it hard to open a conversation readily.
They believed in Erin.
Yet, within this mansion, their belief could not lend her strength.
Erin was already an integral part of Lienster to them.
With Aiden’s lost memory alone weighing heavily on their hearts, they were at a loss for words over Erin’s predicament.
Then, Mona took out a letter she had received amidst the earlier commotion.
“Please check this. It’s the letter sent when you departed from the Duchy of Lienster.”
Mona handed the letter to Erin and continued,
“Considering the timing, they should nearly be here.”
“…”
Logan and Isabella were on their way to the capital.
They were the core of the Lienster family and would undoubtably trust Erin fully, especially under these circumstances.
“Once they arrive, they will surely support us.”
Mona’s tone was full of conviction, aiming to alleviate Erin’s worries.
With her words, the faces of the employees brightened.
However, tomorrow, the elders will try to strip everything from Erin and expel her from the Lienster house.
One of the employees stepped forward and said with determination,
“If we can just buy a little time, they will surely arrive without delay.”
“We’ll do whatever it takes to hold them off.”
Erin couldn’t give them an immediate answer. Instead, she was lost in deeper thought.
‘But, will the timing work out?’
It wasn’t that she worried Logan and Isabella would arrive after everything was over.
Even if they arrive tomorrow, given how things have escalated, the mere appearance of Logan and Isabella wouldn’t neatly solve the problem.
“…”
“Are you worried that a public quarrel might arise?”
As Erin’s silence grew longer, Felix cautiously spoke up, guessing her concerns.
Erin quietly nodded.
Logan and Isabella would try to protect her.
But if Aiden doubts Erin, then in the end, a division will occur between them, and the elders’ machinations would lead to a public dispute.
Erin didn’t want to create such a muddled situation.
“How about quietly spiriting Gael Zahard away? That way, he can’t continue to tell lies.”
Madame put forward her proposal assertively. It seemed she was ready to act immediately if Erin just gave her permission.
“The moment we do that, it’s as good as admitting that Gael Zahard’s words are true.”
Erin cut her off firmly.
Their worry seemed to deepen all the more.
“Everyone, please step back and rest.”
Erin offered them a smile.
“Staying here like this won’t produce an immediate solution.”
Following Erin’s words, they reluctantly got up.
“And Madame, I would like you to send the letter I’ve written to my mother and father as soon as possible.”
“Don’t worry.”
She answered decisively, took the letter from Erin, and left.
Once everyone had left, Erin was plunged into deep thought.
She couldn’t just succumb meekly.
For Erin to be pushed back meant that the elders would gain actual control over House Lienster.
She had worked hard to reduce the elders’ influence, and she would not allow their efforts to be in vain in an instant.
Lienster was soon to be a place that Erin had to protect.
It was family itself, inseparable any longer.
That’s why Erin had to ensure it wasn’t left to the whims of the elders.
But now, they were trying to strip her of all authority by falsely tying her to the fence called Zahard.
Erin didn’t have many choices at the moment.
Erin’s fingers moved rhythmically.
‘What could Aiden be thinking? Aiden’s memories…’
Erin slowly closed her eyes and then opened them. And she decided.
‘What importance are memories?’
If only Aiden’s heart would respond, even without memories.
Memories could be rebuilt from the beginning.
Only one day was left.
No, not even a half day remained now.
Many thoughts on what to do during that time passed through her mind, but there was one thing Erin had to do.
Of course, uncovering the elders’ wrongdoings and driving them out was also something that had to be done.
But before that, Erin had to protect her position at all costs.
For Lienster and for Aiden.
‘If I were Aiden, it would be terrible to regain my memories only to find that the person I love is not here.’
However, Erin couldn’t do much right then. In fact, almost nothing.
‘I can’t just wait for tomorrow to come.’
Erin was determined to use any means necessary to protect what was precious to her.
With a resolute heart, Erin was already getting up and walking towards the door.
It was when she left the room.
“Huh…?”
Erin blinked blankly ahead.
Aiden was right there in front of her.
Although Erin was planning to meet Aiden, she was surprised that he had come to see her first.
“What are you doing here?”
Keep up the act.” Erin asked, taking steps towards Aiden.
“I thought I had to check things out for myself.”
Aiden spoke calmly.
“Do you have nothing to say to me?” Aiden was looking for an answer.
No matter how much Aiden pushed her away, Erin remained unshaken. Aiden was oddly swayed by such Erin.
‘Was that somewhat influential?’
Just that thought made Erin’s heart flutter.
That was enough. The last hesitation lingering in Erin’s heart disappeared.
Erin grabbed Aiden’s wrist and pulled him toward herself.
“There’s something I need to verify first.”
Erin started seriously.
Her eyes, steady and direct, gazed into Aiden’s.
There was one last thing she needed to confirm before translating her decision into action.
Erin carefully began to speak to Aiden.
“Tell me honestly.”
“…”
Erin embraced Aiden.
And slowly lifting her head to meet Aiden’s eyes.
“If you truly hate that I am doing this, I won’t do it anymore.”
Erin looked earnestly at Aiden.
Aiden’s eyes wavered under the intensity of her gaze.
“Do you really hate it?”
Erin asked once again.
And Aiden…
His lips did not part.
In that moment, a flurry of emotion spread across Aiden’s face.
As if his mind and speech were disconnected, he looked bewildered.
Erin didn’t miss any subtle shift in his expression.
She didn’t expect the same reaction as before from him.
Just that, at least when he remembered that Erin truly would not approach Aiden.
He might hesitate just a little, thinking that being with Erin wasn’t all that bad.
Aiden’s lips quivered as if they were about to move, and then slowly separated.
“No. It’s not that.”
Eventually, a statement tantamount to affirmation came from Aiden’s lips.
“The truth is…”
“It’s okay. That’s enough for me.”
Aiden was about to say something cautiously.
Erin, as if expecting such a response, raised the corners of her mouth and cut him off.
It didn’t matter to her what Aiden was going to say next.
Only that response was important at the moment.
Erin’s heart had fluttered several times while she was observing Aiden’s reaction, but she did not let her inner turmoil show.
Instead, she opened her mouth slowly with a meaningful smile.
“Then, from now on…”
“……?”
Erin whispered a secret to Aiden.
***
It was morning when the commotion erupted at the Lienster household.
The elders were frantically roaming the mansion, and the servants were equally disoriented, rushing about.
Their bewildered wandering had a reason—Aiden and Erin had vanished.
Neither had left for an outing, yet they were nowhere to be found well into the day when the sun was high in the sky.
The unexpected situation threw everyone into disarray.
“Where on earth could they have gone?”
“If anything has happened to them, someone will pay!”
It was amidst the elders’ stern rebukes and agitation toward the servants that…
“…I, I’ve found them!”
A servant came running urgently, shouting out their discovery.
“Where?” the elders pressed the servant, hurrying off to the location where Erin and Aiden were supposed to be.
“…huh, what is this situation?”
Elder Dian murmured incredulously upon arriving at a room within the mansion they hadn’t even known existed.
At the end of the long corridor, a seemingly dead-end wall gave way to another hallway when pushed.
At its termination lay a room, as if on a deserted island, existing in seclusion.
And within, Erin and Aiden were found.
The door to the room was locked from the inside.
